TalulaZoeApple

Whoopi Goldberg Brings Back Sister Act As Producer

A few months ago, I wrote about the halting of Whoopi Goldberg's attempt to bring For Colored Girls to Broadway after a producer pulled out. Soul singer India Arie was slated to star in the choreopoem.

Well, Goldberg is getting her shot again now as producer of Sister Act in London.

Producer Whoopi Goldberg has announced the casting for the London stage adaptation of her hit film Sister Act. US actress Patina Miller will star as Deloris, a singer hiding from the mob in a convent. The role was made famous by Goldberg herself in the 1992 movie.

British actress Sheila Hancock will play the spiky Mother Superior. Goldberg said the pair would "reinvent Sister Act and bring it to a whole new level". The musical will have its official opening in June. SOURCE

I am excited to see Whoopi do something other than her schtick on The View. I know the show is more popular than it has ever been but the content has deteriorated into sensational drivel meant to spark a shouting match on each episode. I thought The View was at its best when Lisa Ling was a co-host. She and Meredeth Viera brought a sophisticated intelligence to the show. Ratings love a shout-fest especially when it's screeching women doing the shouting. **Flavor of Love Reunions anyone?**

I am a little disappointed that For Colored Girls has apparently been shelved. I think it is an important work that speaks to the deep seeded self-esteem issues of Black girls. Ntozake Shange work is so unabashed in its delivery. The rawness of the text kind of takes you by surprise given the poetic structure of the book.

I think you guys should check it out. If you have please drop a comment. Thanks.

Feedback Time

Hello Talula Readers,

I would like to thank all of you who stop by this blog of mine. To the ones who comment and to the ones who lurk quietly in the shadows, thank you.

I am interested in feedback on the site. Talk about anything; design, content, comments, etc.

For instance, if you miss my TJ Holmes stalking updates, let a sister know. Mkay?

We'll See Your President and Raise You A Token!

Michael Steele has been named the chairman of the Republican National Committee.

The Republican National Committee elected Michael Steele as its first African American chairman today in Washington, a decision that came after an excruciating series of ballots that displayed a level of drama rarely seen in national politics. Michael Steele speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. last September. (AP)On the sixth and final ballot Steele bested South Carolina Republican party Chairman Katon Dawson 91 to 77.  SOURCE

Let me be perfectly clear. I do not believe that Michael Steele by his party affiliation or actions constitutes a token. I do believe the Republican Party's electing him as chairmen is in fact tokenism. The committee actually voted six times, with opposition members dropping out and throwing their support to Steele, before he was elected. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

If the name Michael Steele does not ring a bell, he was a prominent pundit on the talk show circuit during the campaign. I noticed Steele primarily because he was less virulent in his opposition to President Obama than the others, i.e., Juan Williams, Alan Keyes, Ron Christie.

Plus, Steele is viewed as somewhat of a moderate. Anti-abortion, fiscally conservative but vocal on issues of affirmative action and death-penalty inequities. SOURCE

It is also important to note that his closest opposition, Katon Dawson South Carolina Republican party Chairman, belonged to the Whites-Only Forest Lake Country Club up until a few months ago.

Steele was the first African American elected to Lieutenant Governor of Maryland in 2003. For more info click here. 

Is this too little, too late?I saw Michael Steele's victory speech and he is no Barack Obama. He is not exactly Alan Keyes either. Is this move a little stroke of genius by the RNC? Discuss.

What Is Your Animal Personality?

I am a Puma. Go figure.

The Obama Girls Make Black the New Black

An interesting article over at NY Mag states that advertisers and talent agencies are seeking little black girls for as models.

Madison Avenue is scrambling to adjust to a new era, when the most admired people in America are a black family. To reflect this reality, talent scouts are on the hunt for models who look like the Obama children, Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10. “People are looking for girls who resemble them,” says Charlie Winfield, the head booker at FunnyFace Today.

Tali Lev, an agent with the Gilla Roos agency, keeps links to her “Sasha” and “Malia” model lists on her desktop for easy access. “Photographers even want them for their portfolios.” Marlene Wallach, president of Wilhelmina Kids & Teens, says the First Daughters are tough subjects to match. “It’s a very specific age and a very specific ethnicity, so there aren’t that many girls that would necessarily fit the bill.”

Two who do are Ariel Binns and Kylah Williams, whom Wallach booked as Sasha and Malia, respectively, in the September 2008 issue of Harper’s Bazaar, which featured a faux Obama family (Tyra Banks played Michelle) SOURCE

I guess this is progress but what took so long? African Americans have only been in America since its inception. Crispus Attucks was the first casulaty of the American Revolution. 

   

There is huge purchasing power in the African American community. It seemed always counter-intuitive to not have African American models, dolls, actresses. It's particulary interesting how Wallach describes the Obama girls as 'tough subjects to match.'  Seriously?

Maybe a new generation of little brown girls will have an opportunity to see themselves in a positive light.

**I know the last picture is old but they look so cute here**

On Interracial Dating

I know this subject matter has been debated ad nauseum. I am not here to debate the rightness or wrongness of interracial dating. I am curious about a particular phenomenon that is making its waves over the Internet.

There is a rise in dating sites, blogs, and forums focused specifically on black women dating white men. I read Siditty's blog and she has a lot of interesting sometimes heated discussions on the subject matter. I actually got this post idea from reading one of her posts.

I clicked on this one site from a commenter (white) and his entire site was devoted to his love of black women. For some reason, this did not sit right with me. I am a black woman and its good to be loved but is this kind of singularity just shy of fetishism.

I also question why I even feel this way. I ran across another blog from an African American blogger who proclaims why he loves black women. Is this any different? Should I feel just as uncomfortable with his exclusive devotion to black women. Should the race even matter when it comes to love?

I don't know, but I thought I would ask the question.

Kelly Rowland - Star Spangled Banner

I was shocked and amazed when I saw this video. This girl can really sing. It makes you wonder why she is a HUGE success in the UK and gets no publicity here in the States.

Well a little birdie told me that she has fired Matthew Knowles (Beyonce's daddy) and got new management. I ain't one to gossip so you ain't heard that from me!

Ok Two More and That's It.

 

Thanks Stan!!!

Aretha's Hat Makes Its Rounds

I hesitated to post these because they are EVERYWHERE, but these are too funny not to.

   

 

 

Fun times.

 

On Dieting, First Week

I wrote here that I would try to eliminate refined sugar from my diet for a week and report the results.

Honestly, I did not go the entire week without something sweet. I did have Brown Cow yogurt and that's pretty sweet and an apple pie from McDonald's yesterday. I am so ashamed :(

I used to feel sluggish whenever undertaking a diet limiting sugar but this time I substituted low glycemic fruits like blueberries. I also committed to cooking and NOT eating fast food. Bananas give me such a sugar rush that I feel like going to sleep after I eat them, so bananas are off the table.

Results have been more energy and I am down five pounds!!!

Another big result, I have been alternating my walks with jog/walk sequences. I can actually jog longer than I ever have before. Yeah!!!!!